It was like acquiring a beautiful painting and then savoring its beauty for a few days only to find, on the third day, it somehow obtained some smudge marks overnight.
You still enjoy the painting but not nearly as much. The smudge marks are a source of irritation.
When the United States World Cup team received that dramatic stoppage-time goal from Landon Donovan to beat Algeria 1-0 and earn a berth in the knockout round of the World Cup, we cherished that goal for days. We couldn’t get enough of the replays.
But the 2-1 loss to Ghana in extra time in the next round blurred the memory of Donovan’s goal. The painting had smudges on it.
Those smudges included the memory of Kevin Prince Boateng stealing the ball from Ricardo Clark, who shouldn’t have replaced Maurice Edu in the starting lineup in the first place, and beating goalkeeper Tim Howard with a shot to the near post that should have been saved.
The other smudge was Asamoah Gyan’s overtime game-winner in which he maneuvered past U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra and flicked the ball over Howard.
The United States blew a golden opportunity to add to the groundswell of excitement and patriotism over their accomplishments.
Coach Bob Bradley knows it. The players know it.
They were placed in a favorable group and then a promising knockout round bracket, facing Ghana in the knockout round instead of perennial powers Brazil, Argentina, Germany or the Netherlands.
If the U.S. had beaten Ghana, it would have kept America buzzing about the World Cup for another week.
It then would have had another winnable game against Uruguay to reach the semis. The U.S. has never advanced past the quarterfinals.
Wins over Ghana and Uruguay would have really skyrocketed interest.
It’s a shame, really. They were the comeback kids.
They surrendered the first goal to both England and Slovenia — they gave up the first two to Slovenia — but came back to earn ties. They also spotted Ghana a 1-0 lead but pulled even on a Donovan penalty kick before losing.
Surrendering the first goal means a loss in soccer at least 70 percent of the time.
The U.S. team, to a lesser degree, could have brought valuable exposure to a sport much like the 1980 United States Olympic team brought to hockey.
Underdog teams like that are able to attract even non-sports fans and convert them.
The fact the United States strikers haven’t scored in two World Cups, encompassing seven games, is a concern.
But Jozy Altidore was the youngest starting striker in the Cup at age 20 so he should be significantly improved four years from now. He nearly beat Ghana but hooked his shot just wide as he slid to the ground in the final minutes of regulation.
Former Boston College star Charlie Davies, who was unavailable due to an Oct. 13 car accident, is 24 and could have been useful. Hopefully, the speedster will develop.
And 21-year-old Freddy Adu, who didn’t make the World Cup roster, is a dynamic striker who could be a factor in four years.
The U.S. must also become quicker and more athletic in the back. Our defense was expected to be a liability. It was.
Then there’s Bob Bradley.
Don’t be surprised if former German World Cup star and coach Jurgen Klinsmann replaces him as the head coach.